Other translations:

Six Words that Sum it All Up

I prostrate to all the lamas
Loton and you all come here and listen well

Do you know what appearances are like?
If you don’t know what appearances are like
Whatever appears is an appearance
Not realized, they are samsara
Realized, they are Dharmakaya
When appearances as Dharmakaya shine
There’s no other view to look for
There’s no other view to find

Do you know how to rest your mind?
If you don’t know how to rest your mind
Without thoughts jumping all around
Let your mind rest uncontrived
Rest with a child’s independence
Rest like an ocean free of waves
Rest with a candle flame’s clarity
Rest like a corpse, without arrogance
Rest like a mountain, so still
There simply is no name for what mind is really like

Do you know how experiences shine?
If you don’t know how experiences shine
They’re like the sun waking up the night
You don’t need to throw thoughts away
No ground, just like in a dream
No fixation, like a water moon
Nothing really there, like a rainbow
Directionless, like the open sky
That is how experiences shine

Do you know how to fix it when things go wrong?
Here’s how to fix it when things go wrong
Strong winds, but all within the sky
Big waves, but all in the ocean
Thick clouds, but all within the blue
Frantic thoughts, but all within the unborn
Thoughts are strong but their nature is unborn
Engage in balanced awareness
Apply the teachings for mind riding the wind
And when the thief of thought comes around
Apply the teachings for recognizing him
And when you lose your mind to something outside
Be like the ship captain watching his crow fly

Do you know what conduct is like?

If you don’t know what conduct is like
Be like the great lion, powerful and strong
In the mud, be the lotus in full bloom
Be like the elephant, running loose and crazy
Be like the polished crystal, beautiful and bright

Do you know how the fruition dawns?
Here’s how the fruition dawns
From non-thought comes Dharmakaya
From bliss itself, Sambhogakaya
From clarity, Nirmanakaya
From native mind, the Essence kaya
I’m the one who’s got the four kayas
The scholars can only talk about—
The four that never leave the Dharmadhatu

These are the view, meditation, and experience
Corrective methods, conduct, and fruition
They shone in this yogi’s experience
Now you should practice the same!


Sung to Loton Gendun, from the Tibetan text at page 664-5.
Under the guidance of Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, translated by Ari Goldfield, Portland, Oregon, November 1999. Translation copyright 2012, Ari Goldfield.